Reversible valve-gear.



Patented Aug. 11, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J.H. EARL. REVERSIBLE VALVE GEAR. APELIOATION FILED SEPT. 27, 1912.

Patented Aug. 11, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

THE NORRIS PETERS CQ. PHOTO-L|THOH WA HINr1mN n I JOHN H. EARL, OF SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS.

REVERSIBLE VALVE-GEAR.

1,1oe,scc.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 11, 1914:,

Application filed September 27, 1912. Serial N 0. 722,725.

To all whom, it may conce n Be it known that I, JOHN H. EARL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Somerville, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Reversible Valve-Gears, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to valve gear and more particularly to the class of reversing valve gear for locomotive or other engines.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a valve gear wherein the slide valve and the steam chest may be accurately adjusted and the same shifted in adjusted position for permitting the reversing of a locomotive or other engine, the mechanism of the valve gear being designed to permit the proper mounting thereof upon the locomotive or other engine irrespective of the size of the throw of each of its pitmen.

Another object of the invention is the provision of valve gear in which the parts thereof are connected in a novel manner so that the same can be readily and easily adjusted and also which will permit the proper squaring of the lead of the slide valve or piston in a steam chest and in event that the combination lever becomes broken the other part of the gear can be so set that the locomotive will be able to haul a full load as well as enabling the reversing of the engine for the purpose of setting out of cars or any other purpose requiring the engine to move backward.

A further object of the invention is the provision of valve gear of this character which is simple in construction, readily and easily controlled, thoroughly reliable and efficient in its operation, and which may be manufactured at a minimum cost.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fullv described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out inthe claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings; Figure 1 is a side elevation of the valve gear and portions of the parts of a locomotive shown diagrammatically by dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through the steam chest and cylinder showing the valve gear connected therewith. Fig. 3 is a similar view with the valve gear in shifted posi tion for reversing the locomotive. Fig. 4 is l l 1 1 1 i i i l l a sectional view on the line 44 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 55 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 66 of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is an elevation looking toward the inner faces of the parts shown in 4:.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawings.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, 5 designates a portion of a cross head guide, 6 the cross head which is slidably mounted within the guide as usual, 7 the steam cylinder, 8 the steam chest and 9 the slide valve working within the latter for controlling the admission and exhaust to and from the cylinder 7 of a locomotive or other engine. The cylinder 7 has working therein a piston 10 as usual, the rod or stem 11 of which is connected to the cross head 6, which has pivotally connected thereto the pitman 12, the same being also pivotally connected to an eccentric crank 13 mounted upon one of the driving wheels of the locomotive in the ordinary well-known manner, the slide valve being controlled and adjusted by means of the valve gear presently described.

The valve gear comprises a combination lever 14, which has its upper end pivoted at 15 to the outer end of the slide valve stem 16, the latter being slidably engaged in a guide 17 stationarily mounted upon the cross head guide 6, while fixed to the cross head 6 is a bracket 18 to the free end of which is pivoted a depending arm 19 provided with a central elongated slot 20 in which is mounted a slide block 21, the same being adjustably connected to the lower end of the combination lever let by means of a pivot 22, whereby the throw of thesaid lever may be regulated, it being seen that when the pitman is reciprocatingly moved the lever 14 will be oscillated for the working of the slide valve. The arm 19 has mounted therein a locking bolt 23 which engages in an elongated slot 24 formed in an arm 25, the latter being pivoted at its forward end at 26 to the bracket 18, it being seen thatthe arms 19 and 25 can be angularly adjusted with respect to each other so as to vary the throw of the combination lever 1e when required.

Fixed to the running board of the engine rearwardly of the combination lever 1% is a frame 27 on which is fixed a straddle piece 28 to which is pivoted a locking lever 29, the same having fixed thereto a cross bar 30 carrying a reversing link 31 in which is engaged a sliding block32. to which is pivoted a radius rod 33, the same being also pivoted to the combination lever 14.

Pivoted to the forward end oi the locking lever 29is an upright operating bar or'arm 34 the same having pivoted thereto an operating guide 35 in which is engaged a slide block ,36 ha vingpivoted thereto a clamp or cross head 37 which is, fixed to the pitman 12, so that on movement of the latter the reversing link 31 will be rocked thereby actu ating the radius rod 33 for controlling the movement of the slide valve in the steam chest.

, Pivotally connected. to the operating guide 35 at opposite sides of and spaced from the pivot point of connection thereof with the operating-arm 34 are cross adjusting straps or braces 38, the same being provided with elongated slots 39 through which is passed an adjusting screw or bolt 40, which latter is mounted in the operating arm 34 so that on the loosening of the screw or bolt 40 the braces may be adjusted so as to vary the position of the operating guide 35 as may be required, in case the combination lever is broken, this is done to give the advance to the valve. l

Adj ustablyeonnected to the radius rod 33 at the end thereof is a lifter 41, the opposite end of which is pivot'ally connected at 42 to one arm of a bell crank lever 43, the same being pivoted at 44 to a stationary bearing 45 mounted upon the running board of the engine, the remaining arm of the said lever 43 being pivoted at 46 to a reverse lever rod 47, Whichis pivoted to a reverse lever 48 suitably pivoted within the cab in suitable reach of the engineer or operator of the engine, the lever 48 being provided with a keeper 49 which slides over a segment 50 stationarily mounted within the locomotive cab at one side of the said reverse lever.

Formed in the keeper 49 is an aperture or lock key opening 51 the same being adapted to register with any one of a series of holes 52 formed in the upper edge of the segment 50 whereby on the inserting of a key 53 within the opening 51 and hole 52 alining therewith in the keeper and segment-respectively thereverse lever 48 Will be locked in its shifted position.

In event that the combination lever 14 becomes broken or unfit for use it will be only necessary to detach the-same from the stem of the slidevalve 8 and to this stem can be connected the radius "arm 33 by its clamp for that purpose thus permitting the slide valve to be operated for controlling the admission and exhaust to and from the cylinder from the steam "chest thereby enabling the locomotive to sustain its load, by adj ust ingguide 35, to get the advance of valve 9. 7

Fixed to the frame 27 and depending wage there-from is a bracket 54 to which is pivoted a: link 55 thesame beinglalso pivotally connected to the lower end of the operating arm which sustains the said arm in vertical position when the same is in motion.

When the reverse lever is thrown in one I directionitpositions the slide valve 9 within the steam chest so that the locomotive may be driven forwardly but on shifting the reverse lever in opposite direction the locomotive Will be driven backvvardly in the reverse direction. v By looking the re verse lever at intermediate points the throw on the slide valve will be varied therebycon trolling the admission and exhaust wand from the cylinder from the steam chest will be clearly apparent.

It is evident by reason of the adjiistinent of the parts of the valvegear that the same can be readily mounted upon different types of locomotivesof varying sizes irrespective of the throw of the pitnian thereof; a From the foregoing description taken in connection ivith the accom, an iag drawings it is thoughtthat the cons ruction and fopen ation of the invention will be clearly under stood, and therefore a mbrextehaed explanation has been omitted. What is claimed is z 4 j j j l. valve gear "comprising a cbnibi nation lever adapted to vbe pivotedft'o a slide valve rod,a; pair of arms adjustably connect ed with each othef' and adapted to be fit I otally connectedwith across head, a s ide block movably connectedvvith onearm pivoted to the lever, a reversingdink pivoted rearWardl'y of the, lever, a, rocking arin connected with the link, amt-111 slid: ably connected with the link and lever irespeCtively, an operating rodpivot'ed to the rocking arm, an: operating guide connected for angular adjustment on the operating rod, and means slidable on the guide and adapted to be pivotall-y connected yvith a pitman when pivoted to the rod or apiston operable within a steam cylinder.

2. A1 valve gear comprising a tion lever adapted to be pivoted to a slide embittvalve rod, a pair of arms adjnstably connected with each 7 other aha adapted to be pivotally connected with a cross head, a slide block movably connected withione arm and pivoted tothe lever, a reversing link pivoted rearwardly of the lever, a rockingarm connected with the linkgaradiusarm' eli'd'ably connected with thejli'nk' and lever bespectively, an 'operatingrod pivoted toth'e rock- 1ng arm, an operating guide connected for angular adjustment on] the operating rod, means slidable on the guide and adapted to be pivotally connected with a jpitman when pivoted tothe r'od of a pist'onopefable within a steam cylinder, and means for adjue ting the radius arm in the reversino a A valve ear comprising a eom tiaanen lever adapted to be pivoted to a slide valve rod, a pair of arms adjustably connected with each other and adapted to be pivotally connected with a cross head, a slide blockmovably connected with one arm and pivoted to the lever, a reversing link pivoted rearwardly of the lever, a rocking arm connected with the link, a radius arm slidably connected with the link and lever respectively, an operating rod pivoted to the rocking arm, an operating guide connected for angular adjustment on the operating rod, means slidable on the guide and adapted to be pivotally connected with a pitman when pivoted to the rod of a piston operable within a steam cylinder, means for adjusting the radius arm in the reversing link, and means for locking the last named means in shifted positions.

4:. A valve gear comprising a combination lever adapted to be pivoted to a slide valve rod, a pair of arms adjustably connected with each other and adapted to be pivotally connected with a cross head, a slide block movably connected with one arm and pivoted to the lever, a reversing link pivoted rearwardly of the lever, a rocking arm connected with the link, a radius arm slidably connected with the link and lever respectively, an operating rod pivoted to the making arm, an operating guide connected for angular adjustment on the operating rod, means slidable on the guide and adapted to be pivotally connected with a pitman when pivoted to the rod of a piston operable within a steam cylinder, means for adjusting the radius arm in the reversing link, and means for sustaining the operating rod in upright position when in action.

In testimony whereof I aTfiX my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN H. EARL. Witnesses:

FRANK P. MARRIELL, Gno. S. OAHILL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of ratentl, Washington, D. G." 

